Baclofen during alcohol detoxification reduces the need for additional diazepam: A randomized placebo-controlled trial
Open accessAbstract
Baclofen may reduce the symptoms of alcohol withdrawal, as an alternative or as an adjuvant for benzodiazepines, but the available data are insufficient to support baclofen-assisted alcohol withdrawal. This study investigated the need for diazepam during acute alcohol withdrawal in patients receiving baclofen. In a single-blind, dose-dependent randomized controlled trial with three study arms, 63 patients with alcohol use disorder, starting in-patient benzodiazepine-assisted alcohol detoxification, were randomly assigned to receive placebo (n = 18), baclofen 30 mg/day (N = 20), or baclofen 60 mg/day (N = 25) for 7 days. Diazepam was provided as needed based on the withdrawal symptoms stated by Clinical Institute Withdrawal Assessment for Alcohol-revised. The primary outcome measure was the number of patients in need of diazepam during alcohol detoxification. Secondary outcome measure included the between-group difference in the amount of diazepam needed during alcohol detoxification. Using baclofen 60 mg/day, 32% of patients needed additional diazepam compared to 35% on baclofen 30 mg/day and compared to 72% on placebo (P = .013). The median total amount of diazepam needed was significantly lower in patients receiving baclofen 60 mg/day (0 ± 10 mg diazepam) and baclofen 30 mg/day (0 ± 10 mg diazepam) compared to placebo (10 ± 43 mg diazepam; P = .017). Adverse events were comparable between patients on baclofen and placebo. Baclofen can reduce the withdrawal symptoms during alcohol detoxification. Baclofen was well tolerated and may be considered for the management of alcohol withdrawal syndrome, especially useful in situations where benzodiazepines should be withheld, such as patients with liver impairment.
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In a study of baclofen plus diazepam, 32.0% of patients on baclofen 60 mg/day required additional diazepam compared to 72.0% on placebo.
“The study measured the need for diazepam during withdrawal and found that 32.0% of patients on baclofen 60 mg/day required additional diazepam, compared to 72.0% on the placebo.”
From A Narrative Review of Current and Emerging Trends in the Treatment of Alcohol Use Disorder (2024) · cites this paper as [16]
The Results report that 8 of 25 patients (32.0%) receiving baclofen 60 mg/day needed diazepam, compared with 13 of 18 (72.2%) receiving placebo. The claim matches the baclofen figure but gives the placebo figure as 72.0%, rather than the 72.2% reported in the Results. (LLM, conf=0.88)
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A Narrative Review of Current and Emerging Trends in the Treatment of Alcohol Use Disorder
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- Authors
- Crunelle, C. L., Jegham, S., Vanderbruggen, N., & Matthys, F.
- Affiliations
- Vrije Universiteit Brussel (BE)
- Corresponding author
- Crunelle, Cleo L
- Venue
- Alcohol and Alcoholism
- Publisher
- Oxford University Press (OUP)
- Published
- 2023-07-31
- Volume
- 58
- Issue
- 5
- Pages
- 565-569
- ISSN
- 0735-0414 (ISSN-L)
- 1464-3502
- OpenAlex
- W4385442723
- Cited by
- 5
- References
- 25
- Citations by year
- 2026: 1 · 2024: 4
- FWCI
- 0.85
- Type
- journal article
- Language
- en
- Open access
- bronze
- doi.org
- Locations
- Alcohol and Alcoholism (publishedVersion)
- PubMed (publishedVersion)
- VUBIR (Vrije Universiteit Brussel) (submittedVersion)
- Topics
- Health Sciences › Medicine › Neurology › Alcoholism and Thiamine Deficiency
- Health Sciences › Medicine › Epidemiology › Substance Abuse Treatment and Outcomes
- Health Sciences › Medicine › Pathology and Forensic Medicine › Alcohol Consumption and Health Effects
- Keywords
- baclofen, alcohol withdrawal, alcohol detoxification, alcoholism, dose-dependent effects, adverse events, liver dysfunction
- MeSH terms
- Alcoholism, Baclofen, Benzodiazepines, Diazepam, Double-Blind Method, Humans, Substance Withdrawal Syndrome, Single-Blind Method
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